Day 165 Dali Museum/St Petersburg, Florida

Daddy Long Legs Evening Hope

Enjoying art has always been a passion of mine. I have explored this more fully during my empty nest period (Day 14-Absorb Art Degas, and Day 86-Art Institute of Chicago). When I heard that there was a  Salvador Dali   museum in St. Petersburg, I packed up my beach chair and I was on my way. 

Day 164 Happy 4th of July/Riverhounds- Pittsburgh soccer

I watched the World Cup a few years ago when the US was a contender but I have never been to  a professional or semi- professional soccer game.  I have been trying sports events in this empty nest period (see Day-91 Penguins, Day-95 Steelers, Day 11- Spring Training Baseball). Therefore, on  the  4^th of  July, I thought that  going to a  Riverhounds  game  would be a good way to enjoy the holiday  and watch the fireworks since the  stadium is located along the river with a perfect view of the city. 

Day 163 US Open Oakmont Country Club, Pittsburgh

US OPEN at Oakmont Country Club  in 2016

The US Open  is at Oakmont County Club  all week.  It  comes to Oakmont about every  10 years so if I missed it, I would have a long wait to see it again. I had hoped to start golfing more in this empty nest period (see Day 50 -Swinging a Golf Club) but I have not played much.  Real golfers (which does not include me), say that the game requires  skill but that  it’s mostly a game about  confidence and mental control. Thus, you play well one day and play like crap the next but you keep on playing.  There is so much to remember:  how to hold the club, how wide to keep your feet, how to pick the right club,  don’t swing down on the club, shift your weight, and the list goes on and on.  That is why the game is fascinating  to me because to master  it, requires you to put it all together -  it’s like finding your Zen.   

Day 162 Political Rally/ Hillary Clinton in Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh June 14, 2016 Hillary Clinton Rally

I am undecided about my vote for President so when I heard that Hillary Clinton would be in Pittsburgh, I decided to attend my first Presidential Rally in an effort to gather more information. This would be  consistent  with striving for self-actualization, or your personal best. It was ironic that during my first rally  I was interviewed by KDKA news, another first! ( click to view news clip)

Day 161 Stanley Cup/Pittsburgh Penguins a Play- off Game

Sheary my favorite player with the Cup  6/12/16

When  I started this blog two years ago,  I was not that much of a sports fan but I have morphed into one during this empty nest period (see Day 91-Pittsburgh Penguins) .  This happened by osmosis from having new friends that are sports fanatics and because going to a  sports event is one of the rare things that my son will  do with me.    Even if you were not a hockey fan,  you got the fever this year as  the Pittsburgh Penguins  pursued, and yesterday  won, the STANLY CUP.  So this year, I was fortunate to experience for the first time going to a few play- off games.  

Day 160- 2 year blog reflection and soul/funk artists Charles Bradley-Changes



Charles Bradley at the Pittsburgh Arts Festival

This blog has been about self  improvement , or self- actualization, which is being the best you can be, by trying new things after life changes. My  changes occurred  over two years ago  when my only son started collage leaving me with an “empty nest” and simultaneously  I had a cracked personal  relationship. I had the double whammy and potential for despair.  Dale Carnegie once said, “Inaction breeds doubt and fear. Action breeds confidence and courage. If you want to conquer fear, do not sit home and think about it. Go out and get busy.”   I challenged myself  to trying something new everyday in the summer of 2014 and to blog about it. It’s been 2.5 years of fun, discovery and reflections. This  blog has been a push for me to get busy and hopefully to others who read it.   

Day 159 La Festa Della Donna - International Women’s Day

It seems  like there is a “day” 
dedicated to everything. Thus you could literally celebrate something every day  but  International Women’s Day is  a day worth embracing.  It is a celebration with a political history but it is also a day to appreciate women.  In Maslow's principle, the human need for  love and belonging  is third on  his  list to reaching our best self or self-actualization. This need can be  expressed in deep friendships  so I was excited when my friend invited me to my first celebration of La Festa Della Donna.

Day 158 Purdue Visit

Dinner

 

 

 

My Blog inspiration book, Everything I Need to Know I Learned From A Little Golden Book ,reminds us to “Let  your children know you love them.”  That  is just what I did on my recent visit to Purdue University to see my son.

 

Day 157 The Ultimate Oscars/Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra

Goofing off at the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra - Heinz Hall 

Enjoying  the Pittsburgh Symphony  Orchestra show, “The Ultimate Oscars,”   was a great way to gear up for the Oscars.   I love the glam of the Oscars  with  its “star power,” movie previews, and red carpet dresses.  The Oscar's larger than life movies have familiar larger than life music themes  written to be  paired with a full  orchestra and the Pittsburgh Symphony POPS featured some of best of these movie themes.

Day 156 Bed and Breakfast/Holiday Valley



Jefferson Inn, Ellicotville, NY

Even though February is the month of love due in part to Hallmark’s marketing, it’s still nice to reflect  on the things, people, and places, that we love and show our appreciation  to the significant others in our life.  Appropriately,  my blog inspiration book, Everthing I Need to Know about LOVE I Learned From a Little Golden Book  reminds us that, “without love, we wouldn’t know joy’s true heights.” A bed and breakfast is a good place to relax alone or celebrate your relationship with that special someone. 

Day 155 NBA Basketball/Utah Jazz vs Philadelphia 76ers




Jazz vs 76ers

I have never been much of a sports fan  but my friend continues to introduce me to sports. Like anything, familiarly brings comfort and I guess now I can say that I am merging into a fan! I think basketball might be on the top of the list.   Recently I experienced my first professional NBA basketball game in Salt Lake City Utah-Jazz vs 76ers.